Syrian air defense systems have intercepted three drones launched by “terrorists” in the west-central province of Hama. Syria’s official news agency SANA, citing an unnamed military official, reported on Saturday that air defense units foiled aerial aggression after they detected and intercepted three explosives-laden hostile drones as they were approaching …
Read More »Yellow Vest protesters return to streets for 43rd week
Hundreds of “yellow vests” demonstrators gather in front of the steps of the Opéra Comédie in Montpellier, for a “national” call to action. Yellow vest protesters have once again taken to the streets for the 43rd consecutive week. The protests began in November after planned hikes in fuel tax, that …
Read More »Taliban kidnap six journalists in eastern Afghanistan.
Taliban have abducted at least six Afghan journalists working for private and government media organizations in eastern Afghanistan, government officials and the militant group said. Local Afghan officials said on Saturday that the reporters were abducted the previous day while they were traveling together from neighboring Paktika province to Paktia …
Read More »‘Staggering’ death toll feared in the Bahamas after Dorian’s destruction.
Charities, government agencies and even cruise ships loaded with supplies and volunteers rushed emergency aid to the storm-ravaged Bahamas on Saturday amid fears of a “staggering” death toll left in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. Bahamas leaders believe hundreds and perhaps thousands are missing in the archipelago nation of about …
Read More »India loses contact with spacecraft on a mission to the moon.
India lost contact with a spacecraft it was trying to land on the moon on Saturday, its space agency said, in a setback for the nation’s ambitious plans to become the first country to probe the unexplored lunar south pole. The lander of the Chandrayaan-2 moon mission was attempting a …
Read More »Hong Kong averts airport protest with security blitz.
Hong Kong authorities mounted a security blitz at and near the airport on Saturday, averting a second straight weekend of disruptions by pro-democracy activists who have refused to yield even after gaining a concession from the government this week. Police mounted road checks and inspected passengers on trains and buses …
Read More »Britain’s House of Lords approves legislation aimed at blocking no-deal Brexit.
The British parliament’s upper chamber on Friday approved a bill which aims to block a no-deal Brexit at the end of October by forcing PM Boris Johnson to seek a delay to Britain’s EU departure. The House of Lords approved the bill without a formal vote at its final stage. …
Read More »US jet ‘accidentally’ bombs Arizona desert with White Phosphorus.
A US military jet unexpectedly released a rocket during what was supposed to be a routine training flight near Tucson, Arizona, according to military officials quick to add that the white phosphorus munition hit a deserted area. An A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft flying a training mission between Tucson and Phoenix …
Read More »Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners in a bid to ease tension.
Planes with former detainees landed in Moscow and Kiev, concluding the long-awaited prisoner swap. The action was hailed as the first step in mending the ‘dead-end’ relations between the neighbors and was praised internationally. Despite many delays and setbacks, the swap finally happened on Saturday. The government plane carrying the …
Read More »Iran activates advanced centrifuges as deadline passes.
Iran says it has started up advanced centrifuges to boost the country’s stockpile of enriched uranium, warning signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal that the clock is ticking for them to salvage the landmark agreement in the face of pressure by the United States. As a third step in Iran’s …
Read More »Hurricane Dorian: Bahamas death toll expected to be ‘staggering’
The death toll from Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas will be “staggering”, the country’s government has warned as aid efforts are being stepped up. The official death toll stands at 30 but is expected to rise further. Officials are sending morticians and 200 body bags to the Abaco Islands, the …
Read More »Indian Woman Becomes World’s Oldest Mum After Giving Birth To Twins.
A 73-year-old woman in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has given birth to twin girls. Doctors delivered the twins, who were born following IVF treatment, on Thursday. “The mother and the babies are doing well,” Dr. Uma Sankar, the woman’s doctor, said. Mangayamma Yaramati said she and her …
Read More »Pre Brexit chaos throwing UK public services on the backburner
As the UK Parliament scrambles in an attempt to make heads or tails of the apparently insurmountable Brexit crisis, public systems, such as the National Health Service and the security apparatuses, have been put on the backburner. British MPs from across the political spectrum have been given very little time …
Read More »Zimbabwean strongman Robert Mugabe dies at 95.
Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwean independence icon turned authoritarian leader, has died aged 95. Mr. Mugabe had been receiving treatment in a hospital in Singapore since April. He was ousted in a military coup in 2017 after 37 years in power. The former president was praised for broadening access to health …
Read More »At least 10 killed, over 40 wounded in Taliban bomb attack in Afghan capital
At least 10 people have been killed and more than 40 others wounded in a Taliban-claimed bomb explosion that rocked downtown Kabul, as representatives from the United States and the militant group negotiate a “peace” deal in the war-ravaged country. The blast occurred after an assailant detonated his explosive vest …
Read More »Pakistan, India officials discuss Sikh border crossing amid Kashmir tensions.
Pakistani and Indian officials are meeting on Wednesday to finalize a draft agreement for the opening of a border crossing to allow Sikh pilgrims from India to cross easily into Pakistan and visit a shrine there, AP reported. The meeting on the Indian side of the land border at the …
Read More »Indonesia sends back hundreds of shipping containers full of waste ‘to countries of origin’
Indonesia has sent hundreds of garbage-filled shipping containers back to their countries of origin, according to the customs agency. The Southeast Asian nation, which is pushing back against becoming a dumping ground for foreign trash, has already returned about 250 containers seized across the archipelago in recent months, and authorities …
Read More »British lawmakers vote to block no-deal Brexit amid election haggling
The British parliament on Wednesday voted to prevent Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking Britain out of the European Union without a deal, but he sought an election just weeks before Brexit to free its hands. After wresting control of the parliamentary agenda from Johnson six weeks into his premiership, lawmakers …
Read More »Hong Kong leader pulls extradition bill, but too little too late, say some.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Wednesday withdrew an extradition bill that triggered months of often violent protests so the Chinese-ruled city can move forward from a “highly vulnerable and dangerous” place and find solutions. Her televised announcement came after Reuters reports on Friday and Monday revealing that Beijing had …
Read More »Russia, India back legitimate trade ties with Iran
Russia and India said on Wednesday they planed to continue legitimate economic and trade cooperation with Iran, the RIA news agency reported, citing a joint statement issued after talks between the two country’s leaders. The statement was released after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held …
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